Summary+Homework


 * LIT241**
 * Instructor Hill**
 * Armstrong Summaries**

For the first chapter of the Armstrong text, I would like you to write a brief (250-350 words) summary.

A summary relates what the author says in your own words. You pick out the main ideas from each chapter that you think are important or key and explain how you understand them. Summaries are mostly objective and are meant to show how well you understand what the author is writing about. Summaries are not the same as responses, which are mostly subjective, and allow you to say what you think about what the author has written, either agreeing or disagreeing with her. Stay away from “I” phrases – I think, I believe, I feel. Those indicate response, not summary.
 * What is a summary?**

You may choose to use some direct quotes from the Armstrong text, but, as a general rule of thumb, I tell students not to use any more than 10% direct quotes. So, for a 300-word summary, no more than 30 words can be direct quotes. Summaries use more summation (thus the name), which is taking a lot of text and boiling it down into much less, and paraphrasing, which is nearly the same length as the original text, but in your own words to make it easier for your reader to understand.
 * May I use direct quotes?**

Be sure to give page number references if you take direct quotes, paraphrase, or want to direct your reader to a specific idea from Armstrong which you are selecting for your summary.
 * Referencing the text.**

And, as I have modeled throughout, refer to Armstrong by her last name or “the author” once you have used her name. This is appropriate in academic writing, unless you know the author personally.

MLA format – Similar to that as outlined for Reading Q&A, only indicate what chapter of Armstrong’s text the summary covers.
 * Format**

I will return these submissions as soon as possible with end-note commentary where necessary.
 * Feedback**

Each summary may earn up to 10 points each based on content and style.
 * Grading**

DO NOT copy directly from the text without using quotations. This is plagiarism and will earn a zero grade (or worse). My adivce is that you read the part of the book you want to summarize, then close the book and write the concepts in your own words. If you are looking at the book and writing directly from it, you are copying. I don't doubt you have this second-grade skill. What I need to see you do more accuately is show that you understand what Armstrong is saying by using your own language to describe the content. You do not need to cover every single point, just what you determine are some of the major concepts in the chapter.
 * CAUTION**